Just An Old Grouch

It’s a beautiful day.  The sun is shining but it is somewhat cold.  Winter has definitely arrived in Alabama.  The birds have emptied the bird feeder so my next project will be to go out and fill them.  I have also done two loads of wash and cleaned the bathroom this morning.  I only have the bedroom to do now.  I plan to save that for next week.  It will probably take me all next week.  I bought a really large tote box so I can store some items in my new shed.

Laundry is folded and put away, trash has been taken up to the trash cans, picked up the mail and filled the birdfeeders.  I am done for the day!  Except for fixing supper and doing dishes J

Sunday was not a very good day.  Didn’t do a lot.  Blood pressure was up and down all day.  So I did some reading and watched the Super Bowl.  Yea Broncos!  I was hoping they would win mostly for Peyton Manning.  Wasn’t too impressed with the ads.  Saw a couple I liked, but was really disappointed in the Budweiser ad.  They need the puppy and horses to come back. 

Today I have started working on the bedroom.  I have two bags to go to Goodwill already and I just go started.  So far I have worked on the cupboard and bookcase.  Lots more to do.  Break time right now.  I get worn out pretty quick.  I just need to get all this done before it gets nice out.  Okay, I took a break, went back to work, and have added three more bags to the Goodwill stack.  Now it is lunchtime.  Penny has been a big help.  I have found several of her puff balls and she has been playing with them in the bedroom.  Needless to say she has been getting in my way.  That’s okay.  I enjoy her company and have been having fun with her.

It’s Tuesday and the bedroom is finished.  Of course, I still have windows to do along with a few other odds and ends but the major part of the work is done! I found some of Penny’s puff balls in places I never expected.  And….I can actually move around my bed now.  Time for a break.

Okay, the back of my car is filled with the bags, etc. of what I will be taking to Goodwill.  I have also filled all the birdfeeders, took out the trash, picked up the mail, fed Lola and let her out to go potty.  This means I did some walking today even in the wind and cold – and it is windy and cold, at least for here in the south. 

Today was primary doctor day.  He went over my lab work and said everything was fine.  He read the report from Dr. Bennett and agreed with her increasing my blood pressure meds.  He then went over the log I have been keeping for my blood pressure readings.  He said the medicine for the top number seems to be working.  However, the medicine for the bottom number needed to be increased.  Hopefully, that will take care of that problem.  I am to continue keeping the log, and we will see where I am after my next appointment with Dr. Bennett.  Sure wish they could figure out the problem.

Haven’t done much this afternoon.  Just got a few odds and ends caught up.  It is still windy and cold.  It was 27 degrees when I left for the doctor’s office this morning.  There was actually frost on my windshield!  How dare it!  I did walk up to get the mail this afternoon, and I actually wore my winter coat, gloves and hat.  I will be glad when spring arrives.  You can tell I’m getting old.  I complain about the cold and complain about the heat.  Just an old grouch J 

Marilyn and Penny Jana and Paddy

It was an interesting morning.  I drove into Columbus Clinic to have my blood drawn.  Not a drop of rain on the way there.  It’s about a forty minute trip, most of it highway.  When I came out of the building it was pouring rain as though the heavens had opened up.  It was a white knuckle ride home, but I made it safely.  We were fortunate that all we had was a lot of rain; no tornadoes or wind.

Didn’t do a lot today.  It was a pain filled day so I just did a few odds and ends.  I did get all of my yarn packed in the ottomans.  I am now putting some of my knick knacks on the shelves where I was storing the yarn. 

I bought a couple of new throw pillow covers at Hobby Lobby so I changed the ones I had in my living room.  They look really nice.

I am gradually getting things caught up.  I more or less didn’t do a lot (except what I had to) while Jana was here.  Now I need to get things done before spring arrives.  Of course, that seems to be a long way off since it is going down in the twenties next week.  I have been updating my to do list and decided I will need to live to be a hundred and stay in good health to get everything finished.  And that doesn’t include my craft to do list!  Or my ancestry research.  Maybe I need to live to be 200 and be in good health. 

Since Jana and I both like to read; we each have certain authors whose books we buy and then exchange them after we read them; we told Brian and Kevin that whichever one of us dies first the other one gets all the books.  Again, we will have to live forever to get all the books read.  And…..we keep buying more. 

Today is Thursday – time flies when you are having fun – right?  Anyway, this morning I got a few things done around the house.  For example, I finally crawled around the floor looking under everything for Penny’s puff balls.  I found about a dozen under the refrigerator and stove.  In a day or so I will have to look for them again.

After all that I went to Tigertown and had my hair cut and went to Krogers.  The girl that used to cut my hair is no longer where I go so someone else cut it.  Actually, she did a better job.  I just finished lunch and now I have a few phone calls to make. 

I just watched a video on facebook about cats liking bathrooms.  I thought mine was odd because she likes the bathroom.  She gets in the bathtub, the sink, licks the faucet in the tub, licks the faucet in the sink, sleeps in the sink and/or tub, rubs against the toilet paper holder (I have a tall one that holds several rolls – she doesn’t unroll the paper though), and she sleeps on the bathroom rug.  If I go in there at night I have to be careful not to step on her. 

Another thing she does is play with the water in the kitchen sink when I leave it drip at night because of the cold.  Our water pipes are not buried as deep as in the north so I need to do this so the water doesn’t freeze.  She also stands in the sink to look out the window above the sink and watch the birds.

She keeps my life interesting!

I didn’t do much else today.  My blood pressure was really high.  I did walk up to the mailbox and also took the trash out.  Ended up being kind of a lazy day.

Talked to Jana and it seems Paddy has taken over her house.  She has now had her for one week and so far she has been to the vet and to the groomer for a bath.  She now is sleeping with Jana, has taken over the couch and the recliner David used to sit in.  She has made herself at home.  Follows Jana everywhere, even to the basement when she does her laundry.  The only time Jana crates her is when she leaves the house.  Jana says she barks when she leaves, but is quiet and sleeping when she returns.  Paddy loves to be outside but she wants Jana with her.  Jana is gradually getting her to stay outside by herself.  Paddy loves when the dog next door comes out.  That dog is a Doberman.  However, they touch noses and run along the fence.  They seem to be getting along just fine. 

Had a busy day today and got a lot accomplished.  The cleaning is finished except for the bathroom and bedroom.  Bathroom is on my list for tomorrow along with touching up the other rooms I have finished.  Time to call it a day.  Plan to read a little and watch some television.  I may even snuggle with Penny a while.

Getting Back to Normal

At least whatever normal is J 

As most of you know, Jana’s dog Smoky passed away while she was staying with me.  She was eleven years old and had cancer.  Jana had her cremated and waited for her before she went back to Cincinnati.  The vets office also made her a paw print of Smoky.  However, that had to be mailed to her. 

Last weekend Kevin and I took her back to Cincinnati.  Brian wasn’t able to come down because he was working.  We didn’t want her to enter her house by herself so I stayed with her for a couple of days.  We went up on Thursday and Kevin and I came home on Sunday.  Jana wanted to get another dog right away.  She wanted an older dog who was house trained.   Friday Jana and I went to the SPCA in Northside and she found her dog.  Her name is Paddy.  She is four years old, and she is a sweetheart.  She is a collie and coonhound mix.  Paddy is a little bigger than Jana had planned on.  However, once Jana saw her and Paddy saw Jana it was love at first sight for both of them. 

Last week before Jana went home, I had an appointment with my heart doctor.  I have purchased a blood pressure monitor and an O2 monitor.  I am having a lot of trouble with high blood pressure, and they have not been able to find out why.  I was very unhappy with the pulmonologist that I went to, and told my heart doctor I would not go back to him.  Dr. Bennett (heart doctor) gave me a thorough examination and is rather concerned about what is going on.  Seems my heart is okay, but that doesn’t explain the high blood pressure.  She also said she can hear something going on in my lungs – not fluid but something.  Once she gets the blood pressure under control I will be going to a different pulmonologist.  She increased the blood pressure medicine and that seems to be helping, but it still isn’t where it should be.  Tomorrow I am having blood work done and will be seeing my primary care doctor next Wednesday.  I go back to Dr. Bennet the end of this month.

 

Yesterday I started my spring house cleaning.  The living room is about 95 percent finished.  The dining room is about 75 percent finished.  I worked on that today.  I have also finished my laundry (clothes that is) and I am now working on getting blankets and curtains laundered.  I am trying to keep busy.  I am also starting to walk around the yard. 

 

Kevin and Ryan installed the fence and lights I was given for Christmas.  Kevin and family along with Brian and family gave this to me.  They all agreed that I needed something at the top of my driveway so I could see where to pull in.  It really looks good.  This summer I will paint it white and plant some flowers (or something) around it.  It sure does make it a lot easier to find the driveway, especially in the dark.

It's About Time

Yea, I know.  It’s about time I update my blog.  I’ve been busy J

First of all, I want to let you know that Jana’s dog, Smoky, had to be put to sleep.  Before Jana came to visit Smoky was diagnosed with cancer.  Smoky was eleven years old.  The vet gave her two to four months.  She made it to three months almost to the day.  It was a very sad time.  Smoky had been doing very well until about two days before she was put to sleep.  At that point she just laid down, and didn’t do much except get up to get a drink of water.  Jana took her outside to go potty, but the last day her legs gave out and I had to help her and Jana to get back in the house.

Jana called her vet in Cincinnati and he told her that it was time.  I then called my vet that takes care of both Penny and Kevin/Renea’s dogs.  Renea and I went with Jana and Smoky to the vet.  They so considerate and very caring.  Jana had Smoky cremated and is taking her home with her.  Jana was supposed to go home this weekend, but postponed it until next weekend so she would have Smoky.

We never did get a good picture of Smoky and Penny together.  Every time one of us got the camera out Smoky would turn her head and Penny would leave.

One of the last pictures of Smoky.  Taken during the holidays while visiting.

It’s a good thing we postponed the trip since winter has arrived with a vengeance.  Right now it looks like Kevin will be taking her home with us leaving on Thursday.  I will be going with them.  Renea starts her new job on Monday so she will be staying her to take care of Lola and Penny.  Speaking of Penny, she keeps looking for Smoky.  Smoky used to lay on the rug in my living room, and Penny goes over and keeps smelling the rug trying to figure out where she went.  She also sits on one of the chairs, the end of the couch and on the end table and keeps staring at the rug where Smoky laid.

When we get to Cincinnati I am going with Jana to the SPCA so she can get another dog.  She is looking for one that is a year or two old.  She doesn’t want a puppy because she doesn’t think she can train it since David took care of that with Bubba and Smoky.  Kevin and I will be coming home on Sunday.

Jana and I have still been doing some shopping and eating out.  We have eaten at all the restaurants where we had planned to eat.  We have also made several trips to Books A Million and Barnes and Noble.  We have purchased a lot of books.  I have introduced her to Hobby Lobby and she has learned to like to go there also.  And, of course, we go to Kroger and WalMart.  This past week Jana, Renea and I had a “girls” day and went to Books A Million, Hobby Lobby, Kroger and to Chill for dessert.  Awesome day!

Tuesday I have an appointment with my heart doctor.  I have been having trouble with my blood pressure.  It has been running high; especially the bottom number.  I am also changing lung doctors.  I did not like the one I went to see.  He has been absolutely no help.  I am still short of breath, etc.

For those of you up north, stay warm and safe!

The Sun is Shining!!!!!

It’s a cold but beautiful day here in Alabama.  If we are lucky it will be like this for three days.  Rain is due to return Thursday.  So, Jana and I are going to get some shopping done.  Today we plan to go to Barnes and Nobel, then eat at Fridays which are two of our favorite places.

Yesterday afternoon, since it wasn’t raining, I decided to check my backyard birdfeeders.  The one just needed to be filled.  The other one which is a tube type finch feeder was almost full and the birds were not eating there.  When I checked the seed was a solid piece and moldy.  I didn’t think I would ever get it cleaned out, but I did.  I filled it with fresh seed.  This morning I have seen a few birds eating from that feeder.  I’m not sure the birds like that feeder.  It’s different from the type of tube feeder I usually buy.

Yesterday morning was interesting.  We had planned to go to church, but that didn’t work out.  The screw came out of one side of Jana’s glasses.  Of course, we didn’t have a small screw driver to fix it.  I called Kevin and neither did they.  Since she couldn’t see too well without her glasses, we decided we better get them fixed.  We headed for Walmart in Opelika.  When we arrived we were told that the vision center didn’t open until noon (CST) and we run on EST.  That meant we had three hours to wait.  So, we walked around Walmart and bought a few things we just couldn’t live without.  We then decided to head to SAM’S.  We had to wait about fifteen minutes for them to open, and then another hour for the vision center to open.  This was better than three hours.  We walked around Walmart and bought a few things.  By then the vision center was open and Jana had her glasses fixed.  If we had been smart, we could have gone to church (even if Jana couldn’t see) then drove to Opelika and had her glasses fixed.  But, oh no, that would have been the smart thing to do J

Kevin grilled hamburgers and hot dogs for supper and Jana and I were invited to eat with them.  We did not turn them down!  Ryan, Stephanie and her boyfriend, Gary, were also there.  We had a really nice visit. 

We have started taking the Christmas decorations down.  Saturday Jana packed her ornaments so she could take them home.  We took down her tree and packed it up to store in my shed.  Sunday Stephanie and Gary helped bring my totes and boxes into the house from the garage so I could start packing my “stuff” and putting it away.

At some point today I need to get outside and check the birdfeeders in the front yard.  I bought some new ones for the front.  I am not sure I will be putting up the new tube feeder since the backyard birds aren’t using the one that’s back there.  They are both the same.

I can’t forget to mention Penny and Smoky.  They are doing fine.  Smoky loves being outside even if it is cold.   She lays out there and keeps an eye on the neighborhood. We feel well protected and safe.  She barks at anyone who comes near, including me.  She also keeps watch of Kevin and Renea’s.  Penny either sits at the door or window and watches her.  If she isn’t doing that she is in her bag.  She loves paper bags.  Jana calls her the bag lady.  She hides her toys in them and she takes naps in them.  I guess she considers this her safe spot. 

Where To Begin?

It has been almost a month since I have updated my blog, and a lot has happened.  First I would like to wish everyone a MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR.  May all of you have a blessed, healthy, and prosperous new year.

Jana and I both were sick for most of the month of December.  Not sure what we had but it sure took a long time to get better.  We didn’t get to do much shopping.  It was a good thing we had all of our Christmas shopping finished.  We had our Christmas decorations up before Christmas so that was a plus.

Jana and I spent Christmas Eve together here at my house.  We exchanged our presents.  We laughed and cried.  It was a good evening.  Christmas Day was spent with Kevin, Renea, Stephanie and Ryan.  Kevin and Renea had a wonderful dinner for all of us.  Ryan didn’t stay very long because he was sick.  We exchanged presents before dinner.  Kevin’s family and Brian’s family gave me the lights and everything needed to install them for the front of my driveway.  They probably won’t be installed until the weather improves.

I guess most of you have heard about all the rain and tornadoes we have been having.  We are fortunate that we haven’t had the flooding and tornadoes that hit in other parts of the country, but we have had enough.  We have had a lot of flooding.  In fact, Jana and I didn’t get to church on Christmas Eve for the communion service where I attend; nor did we get to Mass on Christmas Day.  This was because of the flooding.  We had ten inches of rain over those two days.  We have been referring to my front yard as Lake Aker.  Yesterday we had almost three more inches of rain along with tornado warnings.  We spent some time with Kevin and Renea to be on the safe side. More flooding. Today the sun is shining, but rain is supposed to arrive tonight – strong storms again!  We did get to Mass on Saturday and church on Sunday.

I bought another shed.  Kevin put it up right next to my other one.  This is one of those “tough” sheds made by Rubbermaid.  It has a ten year warranty so it should last a while.  I will be using it to store items in so Kevin doesn’t have to put them in his attic.

I am getting a little better with Windows 10.  I have been reading the book of instructions that I bought, and have been experimenting with it.  It sure is different than what I am used to.  I have been taking pictures of my decorations, etc. and I have been able to download them to my computer.  I have figured out how to print them.  However, I have been having trouble learning how to resize, crop, etc.  Once I learn how to do that I will post some pictures.

For those of you who don’t know, Jana’s dog, Smoky, has cancer.  She was give two to four months before Jana left Cincinnati to stay with me.  So far she is doing okay.  We can see some changes with her breathing, but other than that she seems to be doing okay.  Her and Penny are still doing great.  They do their touching of noses every morning and sometimes other times during the day.  When Jana takes Smoky out for a walk. Penny watches her from the window or door.  And…..Smoky is still very protective of Penny.  If Jana or I correct Penny (and she does need correction) Smoky barks at us.  In fact, she has gotten between me and Penny when I got after her for messing with the Christmas tree.  Penny has gotten very brazen.  I have a tendency to shake my finger at her when I correct her, and she now hits at my finger with her paw.  I really need to stop laughing when she does this J

Yesterday Penny was laying on the dining room floor waiting for her lunchtime treats, and Smoky was standing in such a way that her tail was above Penny.  Of course, she was wagging her tail and Penny thought that was fun.  She was batting it with her paws, and we don’t think Smoky even realized it.  We had a good laugh.  They have been entertaining us in one way or another every day.  Love those girls!

What a Week!

What a week it has been!  First I got sick.  It started Saturday before last and still hanging on.  I think it is just a miserable head cold, but I sure have been coughing, sneezing and all that good stuff.  It has now been over a week.  Of course, several days ago Jana started and now she is as miserable as I was last week.  We are tired of being in the house, but we don’t want to go anywhere to share this misery.  We didn’t even go to church this weekend.  Renea made our favorite “hillbilly lasagna” yesterday for supper and brought some to us.  Sure did taste good.  She even included garlic bread.

The cow has been back.  Kevin and Renea have seen it.  I just have cow patties in my back yard – large cow patties.  I don’t know if it is the cow or deer, but something has been knocking down my birdfeeders in the back yard.  They have completely destroyed one of the feeders and ate all the feed.  The finch feeder is still okay and they have not been able to get the seed out of it.  I guess I will take them down for now.  The animal(s) seem to stay in the back yard.  They are not bothering the ones in the front yard.

Jana and I have finished decorating.  We have been taking pictures.  If I ever figure out how to use the picture program on my new computer I will put some on my blog.  I am really happy with how my tree looks with my home made ornaments.  We decided to hang our stockings on the railing between the dining room and living room.  Miss Penny thought that was wonderful.  When Jana first hung them she tied the yarn in a bow.  Immediately Penny figured out how to untie the bow and the stockings fell to the floor.  She was so proud J.  Jana then tied the yarn in a knot and she hasn’t been able to do anything about that.  Of course, my stocking has a yarn ball on the top (santa’s hat) and she has been pulling that apart.

Penny and Smoky are doing just fine.  I had mentioned that Smoky barks at Jana and me if we correct Penny when she does something she shouldn’t.  The other day I tried to move Penny from under Jana’s Christmas tree because she was chewing on the branches.  Smoky got between me and Penny and started barking.  Penny just looked at me as if to say HA!

The weather has been so nice the past couple of days that we have some of our neighbors riding their horses down the road.  Smoky has been busy keeping any eye on them and barking at them as if to say don’t come in this yard!

Neither Jana nor I have been able to get a picture of Smoky and Penny touching noses, but they still do it every morning.  They spend a lot of time together.  Penny has started checking out Smoky’s tail.  We guess it is because Smoky is always checking Penny’s butt so Penny is trying to figure out why. 

Hopefully, in the next few days we will be feeling good enough to get out of the house and go shopping.  We are both getting cabin fever.  I opened all the windows both yesterday and today.  We have also been spraying with Lysol.